Laugh Like There’s No Tomorrow

Like the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. Imagine if we lived in a world where laughter could heal broken bones or banish cancer! Clearly it’s not the only medicine we need, but wow can it change the mood. I love comedy. I love political humor as much as I like sarcasm and silly children’s jokes. Laughing always makes me feel a little lighter.

“Laughter isn’t even the other side of tears. It is tears turned inside out. Truly the suffering is great, here on earth. We blunder along, shredded by our mistakes, bludgeoned by our faults. Not having a clue where the dark path leads us. But on the whole, we stumble along bravely don’t you think?” Alice Walker

For example, on a recent evening I was walking home and crying over the death of a friend. I was trying my best not to let it out too loudly, but could just feel all the pain and grief rising stronger. Suddenly one of the friendly neighborhood dogs rushed past me on the sidewalk. I had never seen this dog out by itself and when I looked around there was nobody in sight. I tired to get it to go back into the yard since the gate was open, but it wouldn’t listen. I called out for help, but instead of a person another dog showed up. I finally ushered them inside and yet another dog showed up. I don’t know why this struck me as so funny, but I started laughing. Failing to corral the dogs into the yard was so ridiculous, as if I was in a cartoon. That unexpected comedy gave me a burst of joy. I made it home feeling better than I had all day.

“Perhaps the situation should not be taken so seriously.”

One saying I heard often growing up was “We are all gods comic strip.” My (agnostic) mother loved to tell that one liner and most of the time I agree. The world is beautiful, terrible and ridiculous. It’s very hard to take life seriously when I look around at all that happens. We are not guaranteed any amount of time in this life. We can live to be over one hundred or not even make it to elementary school.

Sometimes I just can’t comprehend the things people do to themselves and each other. I find that having a good laugh as often as possible really helps me stay balanced. My to-do list is never ending, but now and then instead of working on a project or studying I stop and find something funny to read or watch.

What makes you laugh? Create a self care comedy list: